Many companies have adopted standard procedures for hiring employees. Recruiters often begin with a review of résumés. Then they will continue with interviews. And after that they make use of several tests so as to choose the best match with the job.
However, research of Bateson et al. (2013) finds that this may be not the most effective way to hire employees. They propose another approach to be more efficient because it reduces the costs of hiring: The Test-first Approach. The main difference is that the tests, rather than the interviews should be drawn on first. Firstly applying tests will extinguish the least-suitable applicants, so that a smaller pool of better-qualified applicants is left. This smaller pool than will undergo the more costly and personalized part of the hiring process.
According to the authors, the test-first approach also makes sense in the two other ways:1. Fair change for résumés: First, it is proven that nowadays many more job applicants embellish their CV’s than in the past. This implies a decrease in the utility of résumés as initial screening tools if interviews are applied firstly.2. Development of more effective psychometric tests: Applying tests has become cheaper and more efficient due to the development of web-based psychometric tests. They have become better forecasters of applicants’ performance.
Although some firms have started to use the test-first approach, using this method is still exceptional nowadays. However, if more companies would adopt the test-first approach they will certainly experience a more efficient workforce.Source: Bateson, J., Wirtz, J., Burke, E. and C. Vaughan (2013) “When Hiring, First Test, and Then Interview” HBR November 2013 pp 34

The Test-first Approach to RecruitmentNqiwa, Student (University), South AfricaI agree this this a more effective way to recruit, it's just that companies are still used to the traditional way of doing things. Using this test-first approach to recruitment would minimize the recruiting costs of the company and shortlist the best candidates at the same time.